Swirler assembly

ABSTRACT

A swirler assembly includes a casing, a support shaft provided in the casing, and a blade provided on an outer circumferential surface of the support shaft and generating a first flow swirling around the support shaft during flow of a fluid in an axial direction of the support shaft. The casing includes an injection portion that penetrates through an outer surface of the casing to connect an interior of the casing to an exterior of the casing and generates a second flow flowing in a tangential direction in which the fluid swirls along an inner surface of the casing in the axial direction of the support shaft.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an assembly, and more particularly, to a swirler assembly.

BACKGROUND ART

Gas turbines are thermal engines for driving turbines with a high-temperature and high-pressure combustion gas, and generally include a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine. In a gas turbine, air is compressed by using a compressor and is combusted as a combustor injects fuel. A high-temperature and high-pressure air expanding in a turbine generates driving power.

In a combustor, an area where flame is not swept away and remains fixed at an appropriate position is referred to as a central recirculation zone (CRZ). In the combustor, maintaining an appropriate CRZ according to flow is important to sustain continuous combustion and facilitate mixing of fuel and an oxidizer.

To maintain the CRZ, a rotational component or swirl needs to be added to the flow. In general, a nozzle generating the rotational component or swirl is referred to as a swirler. A swirler may be divided into an axial swirler, a radial swirler, a tangential swirler, and a cone swirler depending on a designed shape.

Since the rotational strength of a swirl is determined based on the designed shape, the rotational strength may not be controlled by an engine operation environment or an operation condition.

Korean Patent Publication No. 1999-0063275 entitled “Swirler for Combustion Chamber of Gas Turbine Engine, and Forming Method Thereof” discloses in detail a general motor assembly configured as above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT Technical Problem

The present inventive concept provides a compressor system for operating a compressor by using waste heat.

Technical Solution

According to an aspect of the present inventive concept, there is provided a swirler assembly including a casing, a support shaft provided in the casing, and a blade provided on an outer circumferential surface of the support shaft and generating a first flow swirling around the support shaft during flow of a fluid in an axial direction of the support shaft, in which the casing includes an injection portion that penetrates through an outer surface of the casing to connect an interior of the casing to an exterior of the casing and generates a second flow flowing in a tangential direction in which the fluid swirls along an inner surface of the casing in the axial direction of the support shaft.

Advantageous Effects

According to the embodiments of the present inventive concept, a flow rate incoming into a swirler assembly is controlled and a rotational strength of a circulating fluid is adjusted, thereby maintaining continuous and stable combustion. However, the scope of the present inventive concept is not limited by the above effects.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a swirler assembly according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view take along a line II-II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a combustor coupled with the swirler assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual view of an operation of a flow rate regulator of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a swirler assembly according to another embodiment.

BEST MODE

A swirler assembly includes a casing, a support shaft provided in the casing, and a blade provided on an outer circumferential surface of the support shaft and generating a first flow swirling around the support shaft during flow of a fluid in an axial direction of the support shaft, in which the casing includes an injection portion that penetrates through an outer surface of the casing to connect an interior of the casing to an exterior of the casing and generates a second flow flowing in a tangential direction in which the fluid swirls along an inner surface of the casing in the axial direction of the support shaft.

The casing includes a main body portion, a first vane connected to the main body portion, and a second vane connected to the main body portion by at least partially overlapping the first vane, in which the injection portion is provided by a portion of the second vane overlapping the first vane and spaced apart from the first vane.

The casing may further include a leak prevention portion formed in a portion where the first vane and the second vane overlap each other and preventing leakage of the fluid injected into the injection portion.

The injection portion may be provided in plural in the casing, and the plurality of injection portions may be formed in the casing in a radial direction with respect to the support shaft.

At least two of the plurality of injection portions may be formed in the casing to face each other.

The swirler assembly may further include a flow rate regulator that regulates an amount of the fluid injected into the injection portion.

MODE OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT

The present inventive concept will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the inventive concept are shown. The inventive concept may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the inventive concept to those of ordinary skill in the art. The scope of the inventive concept is defined not by the detailed description of the inventive concept but by the appended claims. The expression of singularity in the present specification includes the expression of plurality unless clearly specified otherwise in context. Also, terms such as “comprise” and/or “comprising” may be construed to denote a certain characteristic, number, step, operation, constituent element, or a combination thereof, but may not be construed to exclude the existence of or a possibility of addition of one or more other characteristics, numbers, steps, operations, constituent elements, or combinations thereof.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a swirler assembly 100 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view take along a line II-II of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a combustor 10 coupled with the swirler assembly 100 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the swirler assembly 100 may include a support shaft 110, a blade 130, a casing 160, a leak prevention portion 170, and a flow rate regulator 190.

The support shaft 110 may have a column shape having a polygonal or circular section. A material for the support shaft 110 is not limited to a particular material and a material that is strong to heat and pressure may be used therefor.

A fluid passing through the blade 130 is rotated around the support shaft 110 and thus a first flow may be generated. The first flow may swirl the fluid flowing in an axial direction of the support shaft 110 (hereinafter, a Z-direction). The blade 130 may include a plurality of blades protruding in a radial direction from an outer surface of the support shaft 110. The blades may be inclined with respect to the flow of the fluid in the Z-direction.

The casing 160 may include a main body portion 161, a first vane 151, and a second vane 152. The support shaft 110 and the blade 130 may be installed in the main body portion 161. The first vane 151 and the second vane 152 are connected to the main body portion 161 and spaced apart from each other forming an injection portion 180. The main body portion 161, the first vane 151, and the second vane 152 may be integrally formed or separately formed and incorporated together. However, in the following description, for convenience of explanation, a case in which the main body portion 161, the first vane 151, and the second vane 152 are separately formed and then incorporated together is mainly described.

The leak prevention portion 170 may keep a fluid incoming through the injection portion 180 moving in a tangential direction of the main body portion 161. A section of the leak prevention portion 170, perpendicular to the direction in which the incoming fluid flows, may form a closed curve. In detail, the leak prevention portion 170 may be connected to the first vane 151 and the second vane 152, facing the main body portion 161.

A vane 150 may function as a flow path, through which a fluid outside the casing 160 flows into the casing 160. A shape of the vane 150 is not limited to a particular shape. In detail, a section of the vane 150 perpendicular to the Z-direction may be formed as a closed curved shape which is a part of a circular cylinder. Also, an inner surface and an outer surface of the vane 150 may be curved surfaces. Also, the vane 150 may be formed as a distance between the inner surface and the outer surface of the vane 150 decreases from the center of the vane 150 to opposite ends of the vane 150. Also, the vane 150 may have a shape that is symmetrical with respect to the center of the vane 150.

There may be at least one injection portion 180, and the injection portion 180 may be positioned between the two vanes 150 partially facing each other.

In detail, when there is only one injection portion 180 (not shown), a first injection portion 180 a may be formed as one end of the first vane 151 overlaps the other end of the first vane 151

When there are two injection portions 180, the two injection portions 180 may include the first injection portion 180 a and a second injection portion 180 b, which are spaced apart from each other. In this state, the first injection portion 180 a may be formed as a first vane 151 a and a second vane 152 a partially overlap each other. In particular, the first injection portion 180 a may be formed as an end of the first vane 151 a is spaced apart from an end of the second vane 152 a. Also, the second injection portion 180 b may be formed as the first vane 151 a and the second vane 152 a partially overlap each other. In this case, since the second injection portion 180 b is formed in the same or similar manner to that of the first injection portion 180 a, a detailed description thereof is omitted (see (a) of FIG. 2).

When there are three injection portions 180, the three injection portions 180 may include the first injection portion 180 a, the second injection portion 180 b, and a third injection portion 180 c, which are spaced apart from one another. In this state, the first injection portion 180 a may be formed as a first vane 151 b and a second vane 152 b partially overlap each other. In particular, the first injection portion 180 a may be formed as an end of the first vane 151 b is spaced apart from an end of the second vane 152 b. Also, the second injection portion 180 b may be formed as the second vane 152 b and the third vane 153 b partially overlap each other. The third injection portion 180 c may be formed as the third vane 153 b and the first vane 151 b partially overlap each other. In this case, since the second injection portion 180 b and the third injection portion 180 c are formed in the same or similar manner to that of the first injection portion 180 a, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted (see (b) of FIG. 2)

When there are four injection portions 180, the four injection portions 180 may include the first injection portion 180 a, the second injection portion 180 b, the third injection portion 180 c, and a fourth injection portion 180 d, which are spaced apart from one another. In this state, the first injection portion 180 a may be formed as a first vane 151 c and a second vane 152 c partially overlap each other. In particular, the first injection portion 180 a may be formed as an end of the first vane 151 c is spaced apart from an end of the second vane 152 c. Also, the second injection portion 180 b may be formed as the second vane 152 c and a third vane 153 c partially overlap each other. The third injection portion 180 c may be formed as the third vane 153 c and a fourth vane 154 c partially overlap each other. The fourth injection portion 180 d may be formed as the fourth vane 154 c and the first vane 151 c partially overlap each other. In this case, since the second injection portion 180 b, the third injection portion 180 c, and the fourth injection portion 180 d are formed in the same or similar manner to that of the first injection portion 180 a, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted (see (c) of FIG. 2).

As the vanes 150 are arranged in the above methods, the injection portions 180 may be formed as described above. The injection portions 180 may be radially formed with respect to the Z-direction.

When the injection portions 180 are formed, two or more injection portions 180 may be formed facing each other with respect to the support shaft 110 (see (a) of FIG. 2 or (c) of FIG. 2)

The flow rate regulator 190 is insertion-coupled to the support shaft 110. In detail, the flow rate regulator 190 has a hole in which the support shaft 110 is inserted and thus may be moved by a certain distance in the Z-direction. Also, the flow rate regulator 190 may be formed in a circular shape and thus the support shaft 110 inserted in the flow rate regulator 190 may be moved by a certain distance in the Z-direction.

A method of operating the swirler assembly 100 as above is described below.

Part of a fluid (hereinafter, the first fluid) compressed by the compressor (not shown) may flow into the main body portion 161 of the casing 160. The first fluid flowing into the main body portion 161 of the casing 160 may be moved in the Z-direction and pass through each blade of the blade 130. The first fluid may be moved along the Z-direction and an inclined outer surface of the blade. Accordingly, as the first fluid passes through the blade 130 in the Z-direction, the blade 130 may swirl the first flow with respect to the support shaft 110.

The remaining fluid (the second fluid) of the fluid compressed by the compressor, excluding the first fluid, may flow into the injection portion 180. The injection portion 180 may generate a second flow that is a tangential direction flow with respect to the Z-direction in which the fluid swirls along an inner surface of the casing 160.

In detail, the second fluid may flow into the injection portion 180 including the first vane 151 and the second vane 152. The second fluid may move along the first vane 151 and the second vane 152, which are formed in curved surfaces. Also, the leak prevention portion 170 may prevent the second fluid from moving in the Z-direction and facilitate the second fluid to form the second flow.

When the second flow is generated, the second fluid may be added to the first fluid.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual view of an operation of the flow rate regulator 190 of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 4A, when the flow rate regulator 190 moves in the same Z-direction as the flow direction of the first fluid, a sectional area of the first flow rate flowing into the main body portion 161 of the casing 160 decreases. In this state, as resistance to the first fluid at an entrance of the main body portion 161 relatively increases, compared to the resistance before the movement of the flow rate regulator 190, pressure loss of the first fluid may be increased.

Referring to FIG. 4B, when the flow rate regulator 190 moves in a Z-direction in the opposite direction to the flow direction of the first fluid, the sectional area of the first flow rate flowing into the main body portion 161 of the casing 160 increases. In this state, as the resistance to the first fluid at the entrance of the main body portion 161 relatively decreases, compared to the resistance before the movement of the flow rate regulator 190, the pressure loss of the first fluid may be decreased.

Since the fluid moved in a direction where the pressure loss is less, the flow rate of the first fluid decreases when the flow rate regulator 190 moves in the same Z-direction as the movement direction of the first fluid (see FIG. 4A). In contrast, the flow rate of the first fluid flowing into the main body portion 161 may increase when the flow rate regulator 190 moves in the Z-direction opposite to the flow direction of the first fluid (see FIG. 4B).

The flow rates of the first fluid and the second fluid may be controlled through the movement of the flow rate regulator 190 in the Z-direction.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a swirler assembly according to another embodiment. In the following description, like reference numerals denote like elements.

Referring to FIG. 5, the swirler assembly may include a support shaft 210, a blade 230, a casing 260, a leak prevention portion 270, and a flow rate regulator 190.

Also, the casing 260 may include a main body portion 261 and a vain 250 including a first vane 251, and a second vane 252. In this state, since the support shaft 210, the first vane 251, the second vane 252, the leak prevention portion 270, and the flow rate regulator 190 are the same or similar to those described in the above, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

The blade 230 may include a plurality of blades in a radial direction with respect to the support shaft 210. In the blade 230, neighboring blades may form a path through which a fluid flowing in the radial direction moves in the Z-direction. The blade 230 may be arranged such that a sectional area of the path between the neighboring blades decreases during the flowing-in of the fluid in the radial direction. The blade 230 may be provided in the main body portion 261. An outer surface of the support shaft 210 may be arranged in the main body portion 261.

The first fluid flowing into the main body portion 261 of the casing 260 may move in the Z-direction in a radial direction of the support shaft 210 along each blade of the blade 230. The first fluid may flow in toward the support shaft 210 by being obliquely contacting the blade in the radial direction of the support shaft 210. Accordingly, the blade 230 may generate a first flow in which the first fluid passing through the blade 230 moves in the Z-direction and swirls with respect to the support shaft 210. The principle of the generation of the second flow of the second fluid is the same as or similar to the above-described principle, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

In order to have a continuous and stable ignition in the combustor 10, a large and fixed CRZ is generated in a portion where the ignition takes place to fix a flame. When the fluid passes through the swirler assembly 100, if the flow circulating the support shaft 110 or 210 is weak, a small area of the CRZ is formed and thus the CRZ may not be fixed. Thus, a continuous and stable ignition may not be formed. In contrast, when the fluid passes through the swirler assembly 100, if the flow that swirls around the support shaft 110 or 210 is strong, the CRZ is formed in a large area and fixed thereto and thus a continuous and stable ignition may be formed.

As such, the flow rate of the first fluid passing through the main body portion 161 or 261 of the combustor 10 and the flow rate of the second fluid passing through the injection portion 180 or 280 may be controlled through the flow rate regulator 190. Also, as the strength of flow circulating by the second flow of the second fluid flowing in through the injection portion 180 or 280 increases, a CRZ is formed in a large area to be fixed thereto and thus the combustor 10 may have a continuous and stable ignition.

While the present inventive concept has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments using specific terminologies, the embodiments and terminologies should be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Therefore, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present inventive concept as defined by the following claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the embodiments of the present inventive concept, a continuous and stable ignition may be obtained by controlling a flow rate flowing into a swirler assembly and adjusting a rotational strength of a circulating fluid. The embodiments of the present inventive concept may be applied to all electricity generation systems or gas turbine systems having a swirler assembly. 

1. A swirler assembly comprising: a casing; a support shaft provided in the casing; and a blade provided on an outer circumferential surface of the support shaft and generating a first flow swirling around the support shaft during flow of a fluid in an axial direction of the support shaft, wherein the casing comprises an injection portion that penetrates through an outer surface of the casing to connect an interior of the casing to an exterior of the casing and generates a second flow flowing in a tangential direction in which the fluid swirls along an inner surface of the casing in the axial direction of the support shaft.
 2. The swirler assembly of claim 1, wherein the casing comprises: a main body portion; a first vane connected to the main body portion; and a second vane connected to the main body portion by at least partially overlapping the first vane, wherein the injection portion is provided by a portion of the second vane overlapping the first vane and spaced apart from the first vane.
 3. The swirler assembly of claim 2, wherein the casing further comprises a leak prevention portion formed in a portion where the first vane and the second vane overlap each other and preventing leakage of the fluid injected into the injection portion.
 4. The swirler assembly of claim 1, wherein the injection portion is provided in plural in the casing, and the plurality of injection portions are formed in the casing in a radial direction with respect to the support shaft.
 5. The swirler assembly of claim 4, wherein at least two of the plurality of injection portions are formed in the casing to face each other.
 6. The swirler assembly of claim 1, further comprising a flow rate regulator that regulates an amount of the fluid injected into the injection portion. 